Apparatus for and method of treating fabrics



Dec. 31, 194-0. F, KE N 2,227,391

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF TREATING FABRICS Filed April 27, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet l Ihwentor FRFVNK L. KERNFIL.

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APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF TREATING FABRICS Filed April 27, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 his in as I'lS i A $4 32556 no finmmfor L. KER NHL.

Dec. 31, 1940. F. L. KERNAL APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD TREATING FABRICS Filed April 2'7} 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FRHNIT L. Kg RNHL (lttormg F. L. KERN AL Dec. 31; 1940.

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF TREATING FABRICS Filed April 27, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Enncnior FR HIV/r L. K5 1 NHL Iii Qttomeg UNITED STATES ATENT FFIQE APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF TREATING FABRICS Frank L. Kernal, Paterson, N. J assignor to Waldrich Company, Delawanna, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application April 27, 1938, Serial No. 204,633

19 Claims.

The present invention relates to the treatment of pile fabrics and other sheet materials capable of having the outer or right side thereof modified in appearance by the application of pressure along a multiplicity of lines as by folding or creasing the fabric or other sheet material.

More particularly, the invention is concerned with the method of thus treating the fabrics whereby to obtain the desired appearance thereof, and to apparatus utilized in performing the method.

In accordance with the preferred form of the present invention there is provided an apparatus which is effective to operate on a sheet or web of the material in such manner as to provide a plurality of folds extending longitudinally of the material in laterally spaced relation and also to provide a plurality of gathers and transversely extending folds.

The apparatus is also effective to crowd and press the material, as it is thus folded longitudinally and transversely, int-o a restricted space and between the turns of a web of suitable material wound on a roller where the material may be held in gathered condition and subjected to suitable treatment, as by steaming, to set the lines of folds or gathers, and in the case of pile fabrics to flatten down the pile along the lines of fold whereby to produce the desired surface ap-- pearance.

In accordance with the present method for treating the fabric in which the apparatus is utilized .as just described, the fabric, after being subjected to the action of the apparatus and the further treatment for setting the creased or fiattened portions, is stretched whereby to remove undesired wrinkles therefrom and to restore the fabic substantially to its original length and width without, however, disturbing the pressed lines or areas on the right side of the fabric.

The invention, and the preferred manner of practicing the same will be more fully explained in the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top view of apparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view in elevation of part of the apparatus, with parts in section;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, on a larger scale, of

Fig. '6 is a sectional view on the line Fig. 1

t6 of Fig. 6a is a detail perspective view showing a presser roller forming part of the apparatus;

Figs. 7 and 8 are detail perspective views;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; 5

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of part of the apparatus showing a modification;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line i i-l I of Fig. 10.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the apparatus comprises a frame having a flat top I 0 provided with longitudinally extending ribs I2 on its upper surface. Said ribs are disposed in laterally spaced relation and converge toward each other at one end of the apparatus. As indicated 15 in Fig. 6 the fabric F subjected to the treatment in accordance with the present method is placed over the ribs if. The apparatus comprises presser means indicated generally by the numeral M for pressing the fabric between the several ribs [2 for forming the longitudinally extending folds in the fabric and to hold the fabric in the spaces between said ribs as the fabric is fed forwardly toward the gathering and creasing instrumentalities of the apparatus, as will hereinafter appear.

Pressing means M comprises a frame pivotally mounted at one end thereof to the frame top or table iii. For this purpose the side rails l6 of said frame are provided with extensions it which are pivotally secured to brackets by means of pivot pins 22. The cross rails 24 of frame It are provided with a plurality of spring pressed rollers 25 which are arranged to bear upon th fabric in the space between ribs [2 as shown in Fig. 6a. There are, as shown in Fig. 1, a plurality of longitudinally spaced rollers for engaging the fabric in the space between each pair of ribs. As shown in Fig. 6a, the roller wheel is carried by a lever member 23 pivotally mounted in bracket arms St on a pivot pin 32, and a spring 34 bears on arm 36 of the lever 28 to urge roller 2% in engagement with the fabric.

In accordance with the method of the present invention, the fabric is moved longitudinally of the table It and is pressed into the multiplicity of irregular gathers or folds extending tra versely of the fabric as indicated schematically at Fa in Figs. 2 and 5. For thus moving and pressing the fabric, there is provided a reciprocatory presser head indicated generally by the reference numeral 38 in Figs. 1 to- 3. Said presser head comprises a U-shaped member Ml extending transversely of table l0 and provided on its under surface with ribs 42, the outer surfaces of which are serrated or roughened for firmly engaging the fabric for pushing the same longitudinally of the table. Pusher ribs 42 are movable in passage-ways defined by ribs 44 which are in fixed relation to and upstand from a metal plate 46 set into the top of table It. As clearly shown in Fig. 3, ribs 44 are disposed in parallel relation and form continuations of the passages between ribs I2. As indicated in Fig. 9, ribs 42 are secured to member 40 by screws 44. In addition to the ribs there is provided a cross member 46 which is secured to and overlies the projecting ends of ribs 42 to confine the fabric and to aid in pushing the same during the movement of head 38.

Presser head 38 is reciprocated by rods 48 actuated by eccentrics 58 fixed to and rotatable by a shaft 52. Said shaft is mounted for rotation at its ends at the top of standards 54 secured to table I0 at the sides thereof and is rotated by a motor MI. Member 40 of head 38 is guided for movement in guideways 56. For this purpose head 38 is provided with guide bars 58 having ribs 60 which project into and move longitudinally of the guide grooves 62 of guide members 56. Head 40 may be detachably secured to guide bars 58 by bolts 62 which project through openings 64 in said head, said bolts 62 being provided with wing nuts 66. Additional bolts 68 are provided on guide bars 58 and project through openings H1 in head 43 for correctly positioning said head in relation to said guide bars. As illustrated in Fig. '7, the ends of eccentric rods 48 are pivotally secured by means of pins I2 to brackets I4 fixed to member 40. As shown in Fig. 8, bracket members 14 are secured to head 38 by screws I6. Guide members 56 are resiliently supported in position and have a limited vertical movement. For this purpose said guide members 56 are supported by springs 18 which surround the shanks of bolts 80 in suitable recesses 82 provided in table I0. Nuts 84 secure guide members 56 from movement off bolts 80.

It will be understood that as head 38 is reciprocated toward the right (viewing Fig. 2) that is, in a direction to fold and gather the material transversely of the length thereof, member 40 is pressed downwardly so that ribs 42 firmly engage the fabric and fold and gather the same together. In thus moving toward the right, member 40 depresses guide members 56 which in turn permit member 43 to move downwardly toward the fabric for firmly engaging the same to form the folds and gathers therein and for pushing the fabric and gathering the same in the space forwardly of said head. Upon the return stroke of said head, the pressure on guide members 56 is lessened and said head is raised somewhat by springs 18 as well as by the action of eccentrics 50 thereby to prevent presser ribs 42 from retracting the folded and gathered fabric previously acted upon by the forward stroke of head 38. Further to prevent retraction of the material upon the return stroke of head 38, presser ribs 42 have their serrations 85 provided at a suitable angle such that said serrations while effective to project the material during the forward stroke of the head are substantially ineffective. to retract the material during the return stroke of said head. Member 45 has serrations 88 which are similarly designed for minimizing the retraction of the fabric during the return stroke of head 38.

As the material is thus gathered and pushed along by the action of head 38 as described above, said gathered material is moved through a passage for guiding the same to the batcher 99.

The passage just mentioned is defined by plate 46 and an adjustable plate 92 which constitute respectively the bottom and top of said passage, and by spaced side members 94 which support adjustable plate 32. The inner edges $6 of members $4 converge toward each other at the end thereof which is closer to batcher whereby to narrow the passageway for the fabric as the latter is moved into the batcher. Top plate 92 is removably secured to side members 94 at each side thereof by bolts 98 and 99 which project through aligned openings in plates 46 and 92 and in side members 94, wing nuts IN being provided as shown for removably fastening the plate in position. Plate 92 is provided with means for preventing reverse movement of the material during the return stroke of head 33, said means just referred to co-operating with the means previously described in connection with said head for this purpose. As here shown, the retractionpreventing means on plate 92 is constituted by a plurality of spring metal fingers I02 which are disposed over ribs 44 in position to engage the fabric folded over the upper edges of said ribs whereby to prevent reverse movement of the fabric. As here shown, fingers I22 are secured to the upper surface of plate 92 between said surface and the adjacent surface of an angle iron I24 secured to plate 22 in any suitable way as by bolts I06. Said angle iron also stiffens plate 92 and prevents fiexing thereof. It will be understood that the take-up roll Hill of batcher 90 is movable in vertical guide members III], schematically illustrated in Fig. l, and that said roll moves away from the companion roll II2 of the batcher as the fabric is wound on roller I08 between the layers of the canvas web H4, said canvas web being supplied from a roll IIB also more or less schematically represented in Fig. 1, as well as in Fig. 2. Rolls I03 and I I2 are driven in any suitable way be the motor M2.

Means are provided for confining the material as it passes to the batcher regardless of the position of the take-up roll I28 in relation to the companion roll H2, it being understood that as the gathered material is wound on said take-up roll, the space between the material on the roll and the restricted passage formed by plates 46 and 92 decreases. For this reason provision is made for retracting confining plate IIB which in the initial stage of operation of winding the material on take-up roll I08 is close to the outer surface of said roll but which must be retracted for obvious reasons as the winding on said roll increases. The means for projecting and retracting confining plate I I8 as may be necessary during the operation of the apparatus as just described comprises an inverted T-shaped bar I20 secured to plate 92 in spaced relation to the upper surface thereof by bolts I22 providing a space for the movement of plate M8 on plate 32 by the upper surface thereof and the bottom of the head of bar I20. Plate H3 is provided with spaced racks I24 in engagement with gears I26. Said gears are fixed and rotatable by a shaft I28 journaled in bearings provided in brackets I30 projecting from bar I20. A hand wheel I32 is provided at one end of shaft I28 for rotating the same for projecting and retracting plate I I8.

The operation of the apparatus is apparent from the foregoing description but may be briefly summarized as follows: The material to be treated in accordance with the method of the present invention is placed on the table II] under the frame I4 with the forward edge portion of the material at the bight of the rollers I08 and H2. To facilitate thus positioning the material head 38 is raised and plate 92 and the mechanism carried thereby is first removed. After the material has been properly positioned, said head is lowered and secured to guide bars 58, confining plate I it being adjusted with its forward edge close to the outer periphery of take-up roll I08. Also, frame N 'is lowered so that the rollers 26 thereof engage the fabric and press the same into the passages between ribs H2. Motors MI and M2 are then started for actuating the presser head 38 and the batcher 98 respectively. As the presser head reciprocates, the material is moved along the table over and between the converging ribs H2 as well as between the ribs 44. As the material is thus moved, it is folded and gathered being thus crowded into the passage formed by plates 46 and t2, and then between the convolutions of web IN on the take-up roll I08. It will be understood that the character of the folds and the creases formed in the material can be varied by adjusting the relative speeds of move ment of the reciprocating head 38 and of the batcher, the folds being closer together when the head 38 moves relatively faster in relation to the movement of the material as it is rolled up by the batcher, and further apart when said head 33 moves relatively slower in relation to the movement of the material as it is wound on the batcher. The provision for thus varying the character of the foldsand the final appearance of the fabric is one of the features of the present invention.

As the folded and gathered material is wound between the convolutions of web H4 on take-up roll IE8, the material is preferably packed very tightly by suitably tensioning said web whereby to press the material tightly by the co-nvolutions thereof. The material is prevented from moving sidewise of the take-up roll by feeding tying ropes in between the layers of web H4 as said layers are wound on the take-up roll, said tying ropes being positioned preferably one at each end of the roll. When the roll is fully wound with the material, said ropes are secured in position for holding the material tightly packed on the roll between the layers of web H4. Then the take-up roll with the material wound thereon is removed and placed in a steaming chamber for subjecting the material on the roll to the action of steam for setting the folds or creases. To facilitate the passage cf the steam through the material radially of the roll, the latter is perforated as illustrated in Fig. 5, said roll being a steaming shell of well-known construction. After the material is steamed while thus held tightly packed on the roll, said material is removed and stretched unless the crinkled effect is desired. When the material is stretched, however, the pile is found to be pressed down and flattened along numerous lines depending on the gathers and folds formed in the material during the treatment thereof as it is acted upon in the course of its passage through the apparatus as hereinbefore described. The material thus produced with flattened surface portions surrounding areas of unflattened or less flattened pile surfaces has an imprcved ornamental appearance which in the case of numerous pile fabrics subjected to the action of the present apparatus closely simulates the appearance of fur skins. The present apparatus and method may also be used for forming designs in the surfaces of nonpile fabrics and other sheet materials.

' It will be understood that apparatus hereinbefore described for performing the method in accordance with the present invention, while preferred, may be varied in numerous ways, particularly with respect to details of construction and arrangement of parts which will occur to skilled artisans in view of the present disclosure. Thus, for example, as illustrated in. Figs. 10 and 11, there may be utilized in lieu of the presser frame I4, a presser Ma of somewhat different construction and which as here shown comprises longitudinally extending ribs I32 which are carried byframe Ma in lieu of rollers 26, but which like the latter engage the fabric and press the same between ribs I2 on table I I]. As here i shown, said frame is pivoted at one end thereof to the table by hinges I34. Other changes in the construction and arrangement of parts may be made. Accordingly, I do not wish to be limited precisely to the apparatus herein shown or described, nor precisely to the method herein disclosed, except as may be required by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for treating sheet material for providing a surface design therein, said apparatus comprising means for forming a multiplicity of folds and gathers in said material, means for actuating said forming means, and simultaneously actuated means for winding the folded and gathered material into a roll and for holding the folded and gathered material under pressure in said wound condition, and means included in said forming means for pushing the folded and gathered material into said winding means.

2. Apparatus for treating sheet material for providing a surface design therein, said apparatus comprising means for forming a multiplicity of longitudinal folds and a multiplicity of irregular transverse folds and gathers in said material, means for actuating said forming means, and simultaneously actuated means for winding the gathered materials into a roll and for holding the folded and gathered material under pressure in said wound condition.

3. Apparatus for treating sheet material for providing a surface design therein, said apparatus comprising means for forming a multiplicity of longitudinal folds and a multiplicity of irregular transverse folds and gathers in said material, means for actuating said forming means, means for holding the longitudinally and transversely folded and gathered material under pressure,

and means included in said fold-forming means I for pushing and feeding the folded and gathered material to said holding means.

4. Apparatus for treating sheet material for providing a surface design. therein, said apparatus comprising means for forming a multiplicity of longitudinal folds and multiplicity of irregular transverse folds and gathers in said material, and simultaneously actuated means including companion rollers and a web of sheet material wound together with said material on one of said rollers for holding the longitudinally and transversely folded and gathered material under pressure in said wound condition.

5. Apparatus for treating sheet material for providing a surface design therein, said apparatus comprising means for forming a multiplicity of longitudinal and transverse folds and gathers in said material, simultaneously actuated means including companion rollers and a web of sheet material wound together with said material on 4- one of said rollers for holding the longitudinally and transversely folded and gathered material under pressure, and means included. in said foldforming means for pushing the folded and gathered material to and between said companion rollers for feeding the folded and gathered material to said holding means. F

6. Apparatus for treating sheet material for providing a surface design therein, said apparatus comprising means for forming a multiplicity of longitudinal and transverse folds and gathers in said material, said means including a reciprocable head provided with a plurality of spaced members engageable with said material, and

means for reciprocating said head.

'7. Apparatus for treating sheet material for providing a surface design therein, said apparatus comprising means for forming a multiplicity of longitudinal and transverse folds and gathers in said material, said means including a reciproc'able'head provided with a plurality of spaced members engageable with said material, and means for reciprocating said head, and rotary take-up means for the folded and gathered material.

8. Apparatus for treating sheet material for providing a surface design therein, said apparatus comprising means for forming a multiplicity of longitudinal and transverse folds and gathers in said material, said means including a reciprocable head provided with a plurality of spaced members engageable with said material, means for reciprocating said head, and rotary take-up means for the folded gathered material, and

means including said reciprocatory head for feeding said material to said take-up means.

9. Apparatus for treating sheet material for providing a surface design therein, said apparatus comprising a support provided with longitudinally extending spaced ribs forming passages, a presser frame having means for engaging the material in said passages between said ribs, means for forming a multiplicity of transverse folds and gathers in the material in said passages, said forming means also operating to move said material longitudinally of said passages, and simultaneously actuated take-up means on which the folded and gathered material is wound, and means to hold said wound material under pressure in folded and gathered condition.

10. Apparatus for treating sheet material for providing a surface design therein, said apparatus comprising a support provided with longitudinally extending spaced ribs forming passages, a presser frame having means for engaging the material in said passages between said ribs, means for forming folds and gathers in the material in said passages and for moving said material longitudinally of said passages, said means including a reciprocable head provided with a plurality of spaced members engageable with said material, means for reciprocating said head in said passages, and take-up means for receiving the folded and gathered material including means to hold said material under pressure in folded and gathered condition.

11. Apparatus for treating sheet material for providing a surface design therein, said apparatus comprising a support provided with longitudinally extending spaced ribs forming passages, a presser frame having means for engaging the material in said passages between said ribs, means for forming a multiplicity of transverse folds and gathers in the material in said passages,

said forming means also operating to move said material longitudinally of said passages, simultaneously actuated rotary take-up means on which the folded and gathered material is wound, and means to hold said wound material under pressure in folded and gathered condition.

12. Apparatus for treating sheet material for providing a surface design therein, said apparatus comprising means for forming a multiplicity of longitudinal folds in said material, reciprocal means intermittently engageable with said longitudinally folded material for forming transverse folds and gathers therein, and rotary take-up means for receiving the longitudinally and transversely folded and gathered material including means to hold said material under pressure in folded and gathered condition.

13. Apparatus for treating sheet material for providing a surface design therein, said apparatus comprising means for forming a multiplicity of longitudinal folds in said material, reciprocal means intermittently engageable with said longitudinally folded material for forming transverse folds and gathers therein, rotary take-up means for receiving the longitudinally and transversely folded and gathered material including means to hold said material under pressure in folded and gathered condition, and means providing a restricted passage for the gathered and folded material to said take-up means, said take-up means comprising a rotatable roll, a web to be wound on said roll as the latter rotates, and means to rotate said roll, said reciprocal means being operative to push and crowd said material through said restricted passage 3 and between successive convolutions of said web on said roll during the rotation of said roll and the winding of said web thereon.

14. Apparatus for treating sheet material for providing a surface design therein, said apparatus comprising means for forming a multipliiity of longitudinal folds in said material, reciprocal means intermittently engageable with said longitudinally folded material for forming transverse folds and gathers therein, rotary takeup means for receiving the folded and gathered material including means to hold said material under pressure in folded and gathered condition,

and means providing a restricted passage for the gathered and folded material to said take-up means, said passage-providing means having a part adjustable in relation to said take-up means for confining said material to a position adjacent said take-up means.

15. A method of treating pile fabrics to flatten portions of the pile surface thereof which comprises a plurality of longitudinal folds and a multiplicity of irregular transverse folds in successive portions of said fabric, winding said longitudinally and transversely folded material under pressure on a take-up roll simultaneously with the formation of said transverse folds therein, and treating the folded and gathered material while under pressure to set the lines of folds therein.

16. A method of treating pile fabrics to fiatten portions of the pile surface thereof which comprises forming a plurality of longitudinal' folds and a multiplicity of irregular transverse folds in said fabric, winding successive portions of said folded material under pressure on a takeup roll, and treating the material while under pressure to set the lines of folds therein, and thereafter stretching the material.

1'7. A method of treating fabrics for providing a surface design therein which comprises forming a plurality of longitudinal folds therein, then forming a multiplicity of irregular gathers and transverse folds in said longitudinally folded material, then winding successive portions of said gathered and folded material under pressure on a take-up roll simultaneously with the formation of the transverse folds in said material, and steaming said material while the same is under pressure on said roll.

18. A method of treating fabrics for providing a surface design therein which comprises forming a plurality of longitudinal folds therein, then forming a multiplicity of irregular gathers and transverse folds in said longitudinally folded material, then winding said longitudinally and transversely gathered and folded material under pressure on a take-up roll, and steaming said material while the same is under pressure on said roll, and thereafter removing the material from said roll and stretching the same.

19. The method of treating fabrics to provide a surface design therein, in which method there is utilized apparatus comprising means for forming a plurality of longitudinal folds and a multiplicity of irregular transverse gathers in said material, and means including a take-up roll and a web for holding the folded and gathered material under pressure in wound condition on the roll, said method comprising subjecting the fabric to the action of said folding means for producing in said fabric a plurality of longitudinal folds and a multiplicity of irregular transverse gathers, simultaneously winding the gathered material on said take-up roll, and actuating said folding means and said roll in predetermined time relation to obtain a desired spacing of the line of folds and gathers in said fabrics.

FRANK L. KERNAL. 

